Comb



Sept. 1l, 1956 w. PFLUEGER ETAL 2,762,353

COMB

2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 19, 1954 INVENTORY WALTER PFLUEGER BY HENRYAUGENSTEIN waa/mfg Sept. 1 l, 1956 W. PFLUEGER ETAL COMB 2 sheetsfshet 2Filed Nov. 19, 1954 United States Patent COME Walter Pllueger and HenryAugenstein, Newark, N. J. Application November 19, 1954, Serial No.469,880 6 Claims. (Cl. 132-135) This invention relates to combs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a comb havingstationary teeth suciently spaced apart to permit rotatable intermediate-teeth to be swung out of line with the stationary teeth to vary thedistance between the teeth and the comb and to facilitate the combing ofknotted portions of the hair.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a comb of theabove type wherein the distance between the teeth may be variedpermitting the comb to be first used for aligning the hair andthereafter to be combed.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an adjustable combbearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy touse and eflicient in operation.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front elevational bodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through oneend of the comb.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken along the line 3-3of Fig. 2.

view of a preferred em- Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view thereoftaken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the movable teeth in movedposition in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an exploded fragmentary view of the invention shown partly inelevation and partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view thereof taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the otherend of the comb and showing the symmetrical construction.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of thepresent invention.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a still further modifiedform of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, 10, 10 represent a pair ofelongated side members laterally spaced apart and integrally formed attheir opposite ends with the end closure portions 11, the end closureportions 11 extending downwardly in the integrally formed end stationaryteeth 12, substantially as illustrated. The side members and end closureportions form a hollow body portion.

As shown in Fig. 3 the lower longitudinal edges of the side portions 10are connected by the integrally formed intermediate stationary teeth 13,the teeth 13 being spaced thereof taken along rice relatively far apartrelative to each other and provided at their upper ends with thesemicircular recesses 14.

The end portions 11 on their inner faces are provided with the recesses15 adapted to be aligned with the cutouts 14'forming shoulder, the endportions 11 being also provided with the substantially cylindrical bores16 extending downwardly from their upper ends thereof.

An elongated substantially cylindrical shaft 17 adapted to be rotatablysupported Within the aligned cut-outs 14 is integrally formed along itslower surface with the intermediate movable teeth 18. Each pair of teeth18' is adapted to lit between the stationary teeth 13 with the ends ofmovable teeth 18 extending downwardly slightly below the lower ends ofthe stationary teeth 13, 12.

Pins 19 are secured to opposite ends of the shaft 17 and are rotatablysupported within the recesses 1S, the Vouter ends of the pins 19 beingprovided with the inwardly extending slots 20. Springs 21 are sleevedover the pins 19, one end of the springs- 21 being secured within theslots 20 whereby to prevent rotational displacement of the springsrelative to the pins. The other ends of the springs 21 extend upwardlyin a vertical direction a substantial amount above the top of the shaft17. It will be noted that the upwardly extending portions of the springs21 at opposite ends of the shaft 17 are disposed on opposite sides so asto abut the inner faces of the opposite side portions 10. Thus, when themovable teeth 18 are moved away from the stationary teeth 13 uponrotation of shaft 17, in either direction, one of the springs 21 will atall times vurge the teeth back into mesh (Fig. 5).

A removable back closure member 22 is provided and is adapted to fitdownwardly onto the open upper end of the side portions 18.' A pair ofpins 23 are lixedly carried and depend from the undersurface of the backmeinber. 22 at the opposite ends thereof, the pins 23 being adapted tobe press tted into the boresk 16 whereby to retain the back member 22 inabutment with the upper edges of the side portions 10. The undersurface'ofthe back member 22 is provided with an elongated'hollow portion 24within which is positioned a leaf spring 25 secured thereto by rivets 26or the like, the free ends of the leaf spring 25 being curved andadapted to bear directly on the shaft 17 whereby to resiliently retainthe same within the cutouts 14.

Thus, vertical displacement of the movable teeth 18 relative to thestationary teeth 13 is prevented by the-leaf spring 25 while angulardisplacement therebetween is prevented by the springs 21.

When the movable teeth 18 are in alignment with the stationary teeth 13,the spaces between the teeth will be relatively small and when the teeth18 are rotated, as shown in phantom in Fig. 4, the spaces between theteeth will become relatively wide. Thus, the comb may be first used foraligning thehair intermediate the stationary, Widely spaced teeth 13(the movable teeth 18 being displaced angularly against the action ofthe springs 21) and 'thereafter the hair may be combed upon the returnof the intermediate teeth 18 to their initial position. It will be notedthat the displacement of the movable' teeth 18 relative to thestationary teeth is automatic upon en'- countering tangled portions ofthe hair and that the return of these'teeth to their original alignedposition is likewise automatic due to the action of the springs.

Uponremoval of the back member 22, the shaft 17 and associated teeth 18may be readily removed upwardly through the side portions 10 tofacilitate the cleaning of the teeth 13 and 18, as will be obvious.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 9, there iS shown a modifiedform of the present invention wherein the pins 23a are integrally formedat their lower ends with the lateral enlarged portions 27 which areadapted to be snapped into the laterally enlarged portions 28 at thelower ends of the bores 16. Thus the enlargements 27 will snap into theenlarged hollow portions 28 to more firmly secure the back member 22 tothe side portions 10. Referring now particularly to Fig. l0,.there..isshown a still further modified form of the present .invention whereinthe shaft 17 is integrally formed with half as many movable teeth 18a sothat only one such tooth is disposed intermediate each pair ofstationary teeth 13;

In other respects the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and l0 isthe same as that shown in Figs. l through 8, and like reference numeralsidentify like parts throughout the several views.

The side portions 10, teeth 12, 13, back. member 22, shaft 1,7 and teeth18 will preferably be formed of plastic orother suitable material. Thepins 23 may be integrally formed in the back member 22. The leaf spring25 will preferably be made of plastic and may be formed integral withthe back member 22.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdened in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A comb comprising a hollow body portion, said body portion lbeingopen at top and bottom and having end shoulders, longitudinally spacedstationary teeth depending from said body portion and extendingtherealong, said stationary teeth at their upper ends being providedwith aligned substantially semicircular cutouts, an elongated shaftrotatably mounted within said cutouts, movable teeth depending from theundersnrface of said shaft and adapted to be positioned intermediatesaid stationary teeth, means `for biasing said movable teeth againstangular rotation in either direction from said stationary teeth, andmeans for biasing said shaft toward said stationary teeth, said teethbiasing means including extensions on said shaft supported on saidshoulder, said extensions being slotted, springs sleeving saidextensions with one end thereof within said slotted portions, the otherend of said springs extending upwardly therefrom in abutment with theinner face of said hollow body portion, said springs being mounted so asto abut opposite faces of said hollow body portion at opposite ends.

2. A comb comprising a hollow body portion, said body portion being openat top and bottom, and having end shoulders, longitudinally spacedstationary teethV depending from said body portion and extendingtherealong, said stationaryV teeth at their upper ends being providedwith aligned substantially semicircular cutouts, an elongated shaftrotatably mounted within said cutouts, movable teeth depending from theundersurface of said shaft and adapted to be positioned intermediatesaid stationary teeth, means for biasing said movable teeth againstangular rotation in either direction from said stationary teeth, andmeans for biasing said shaft toward said stationary teeth, said teethbiasing means including extensions on said shaft supported on saidshoulders, saidY extensions being slotted, springs sleeving saidextensions with one end thereof within said slotted portions, the otherend of said springs extending upwardly therefrom in abutment with theinner face of said hollow body portion, said springs being mounted so asto abut opposite faces of said hollow body portion at opposite ends,Vsaid shaft biasing means comprising a leaf spring secured said hollowportion with the free endsA thereof being adapted to bear on said shaft.

3. A comb comprising a hollow body portion, said body portion being openat top and bottom and having end shoulders, longitudinally spacedstationary teeth depending from said body portion and extendingtherealong, said stationary teeth at their upper ends being providedwith alignedsubstantially semicircular cutouts, an elongated shaftrotatably mounted within said cutouts, movable teeth depending frorn theundersurface of said shaft and adapted to be positioned intermediatesaid stationary teeth, means for biasing said movable teeth againstangular rotation in either direction from said stationary teeth, andmeans for biasing said shaft toward said stationary teeth, said teethbiasing means including extensions on said shaft supported on saidshoulders, said extensions being slotted, springs sleeving saidextensions with one end thereof within said slotted portions, the otherend of said springs extending upwardly therefrom in abutment with theinner face of said hollow body portion, said springs being mounted so asto abut opposite faces of said hollow body portion at opposite ends,said shaft biasing means comprising a leaf spring secured within saidhollow portion with the free ends thereof being adapted to bear on saidshaft, and a movable back closure member for the top of said bodyportion, said body portion at the opposite ends thereof having boresextending downwardly therein, and pins carried at opposite ends of saidclosure member and adapted to be received within said bores, said backmember having a hollow recess on the inner face thereof, said leafspring at its central portion being secured within said recess.

4. A comb comprising a hollow body portion, said body portion being openat top and bottom and having end shoulders, longitudinally spacedstationary teeth depending from said body portion and extendingtherealong, said stationary teeth at their upper ends being providedwith aligned substantially semicircular cutouts, an 'elongated shaftrotatably mounted within said cutouts, movable teeth depending from theundersurface of said shaft and adapted to be positioned intermediatesaid stationary teeth, means for biasing said movable teeth againstangular rotation in either direction from said stationary teeth, andmeans for biasing said shaft toward said stationary teeth, said teethbiasing means including extensions on said shaft supported on saidshoulders, said extensions being slotted, springs sleeving saidextensions with one end thereof Awithin said slotted portions, the otherend of said springs extending upwardly therefrom in abutment with theinner face of said hollow body portion, said springs being mounted so asto abut opposite faces of said hollow body portion at opposite ends,said shaft biasing means comprising a leaf spring secured within saidhollow portion with the free ends thereof being adapted to bear on saidshaft, and a movable back closure member for the top of said bodyportion, said body portion at the opposite ends thereof having boresextending downwardly therein, and pins carried at opposite ends of saidclosure member and adapted to be received within said bores, said backmember having a hollow recess on the inner face thereof, said leafspring at its central portion being secured within said recess, saidmovable teeth being spaced so as to permit a pair of said movable teethto be disposed between each pair of said stationary teeth, the lowerends of said mov able teeth extending downwardly below the lower ends ofsaid stationary teeth. l

5. A comb comprising a hollow body portion said body portion being openat top and bottom and having end shoulders, longitudinally spacedstationary teeth depending from said body portion and extendingtherealong, said stationary teeth at their upper ends being providedwith aligned substalntially semicircular cutouts, an elongated shaftrotatably mounted within said cutouts, movable teeth depending from theundersurface of said shaft and adapted to be positioned intermediatesaid stationary teeth, means for biasing said movable teeth againstangular rotation in either direction from said stationary teeth, andmeans for biasing said shaft toward said stationary teeth, said teethbiasing means including extensions on said shaft supported on saidshoulders, said extensions being slotted, springs sleeving saidextensions with one end thereof within said slotted portions, the otherend of said springs extending upwardly therefrom in abutment with theinner face of said hollow body portion, said springs being mounted so asto abut opposite faces of said hollow body portion at opposite ends,said shaft biasing means comprising a leaf spring secured within saidhollow portion with the free ends thereof being adapted to bear on saidshaft, and a movable back closure member for the top of said bodyportion, said body portion at the opposite ends thereof having boresextending downwardly therein, and pins carried at opposite ends of saidclosure member and adapted to be received within said bores, said backmember having a hollow recess on the inner face thereof, said leafspring at its central portion being secured within said recess, saidmovable teeth being spaced so as to permit a pair of said movable teethto be disposed between each pair of said stationary teeth, the lowerends of said movable teeth extending downwardly below the lower ends ofsaid stationary teeth, and enlargements on the lower ends of said pins,said bores at their lower ends having enlargements adapted toresiliently receive said pin enlargements therewithin whereby to retainsaid back member in engagement with said body portion.

6. A comb comprising a hollow body portion, said body portion being openat top and bottom and having end shoulders, longitudinally spacedstationary teeth depending from said body portion and extendingtherealong, said stationary teeth at their upper ends being providedwith aligned substantially semicircular cutouts, an elongated shaftrotatably mounted within said cutouts, movable teeth depending from theundersurface of said shaft and adapted to be positioned intermediatesaid stationary teeth, means for biasing said movable teeth againstangular rotation in either direction from said stationary teeth, andmeans for biasing said shaft toward said stationary teeth, said teethbiasing means including extensions on said shaft supported on saidshoulders, said extensions being slotted, springs sleeving saidextensions with one end thereof within said slotted portions, the otherend of said springs extending upwardly therefrom in abutment with theinner face of said hollow body portion, said springs being mounted so asto abut opposite faces of said hollow body portion at opposite ends,said shaft biasing means comprising a leaf spring secured within saidhollow portion with the free ends thereof being adapted to bear on saidshaft, and a movable back closure member for the top of said bodyportion, said body portion at the opposite ends thereof having boresextending downwardly therein, and pins carried at opposite ends of saidclosure member and adapted to be received within said bores, said backmember having a hollow recess on the inner face thereof, said leafspring at its central portion being secured within said recess, saidmovable teeth being spaced longitudinally of said shaft so as to Vpermitone of said movable teeth to be disposed between each pair of stationaryteeth, the lower ends of said movable teeth extending downwardly belowthe lower ends of said stationary teeth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,702,197 Cosby Feb. 12, 1929 2,153,126 Andersson Apr. 4, 1939 FOREIGNPATENTS 596,344 Great Britain Ian. 1, 1948

